I state to you that the general nature of the Commission’s inquiry is to ascertain, evaluate, and report upon the facts relative to the assassination of President Kennedy and the subsequent violent death of Lee Harvey Oswald. In particular as to you, Mr. Norton, the nature of the inquiry today is to determine what facts you know about the death of Oswald and any other pertinent facts you may know about the general inquiry and about Jack Ruby and his operations and movements and associates and so forth. I think you appeared here today by virtue of a letter addressed to you by Mr. J. Lee Rankin, general counsel of the staff of the President’s Commission, asking you to come here; isn’t that correct?
Mr. Norton. Right.
Mr. Hubert. Do you remember the date of that letter?
Mr. Norton. No.
Mr. Hubert. Perhaps you can tell us when you received it?
Mr. Norton. Let’s see—it must have been Wednesday, I believe. I’m not for sure. It was this week—right in the middle of the week.
Mr. Hubert. The rules of the Commission provide that every witness is entitled to a 3-day written notice prior to the taking of their deposition, but those rules also provide that you may waive that requirement. I ask you now that in the event you have not been given the full 3-days’ notice, are you willing to waive that right in order to testify now?
Mr. Norton. Yes.
Mr. Hubert. All right, will you stand and raise your right hand?
Mr. Norton. Yes.